Historical memoirs of Rob Roy and the Clan Macgregor

THE CLAN MACGKEGOB. 41
home, as he would himself effect his escape, which he soon
after accomplished. He seized upon a sword, belonging
to one of the soldiers, asked their commands for Braidal-
bane, and walked off, none of them daring to prevent him.
This party was commanded by a son of the laird of
Lawers, who was so much affronted by the escape of his
prisoner, that he never returned to his country. Mac-
gregor, on his way home, called upon the earl, who at the
time was in bed. He ran to his chamber, and, throwing
open the curtains with his sword, upbraided the astonished
earl for his shameless conduct, and told him that his
life was in his hand : but that the only requital he de-
manded for his ill treatment, was an immediate renewal
of a lease of his possessions — a request which the earl did
not think it safe to refuse.
A person of consequence among the clan, about this
era, possessed some land among the hills of Braidalbane.
It chanced that a man from Ardkinglas, of the name of
Sinclair, in passing Macgregor's fold, while his dairy-maid
was employed in milking the cows, asked some milk to
drink, which the woman refused : but he rudely compelled
her to give him a pailful. Having quenched his thirst,
he threw away the vessel, and spilled the remainder.
The dairy-maid having complained of the treatment she
had met with, Macgregor immediately sent a party after
Sinclair to bring him back, but he being refractory, a
scuffle ensued, in which he was killed. Campbell of In-
veraw, hearing of the fate of Sinclair, who was his vassal,
resolved upon the destruction of Macgregor ; who, how-
ever, was apprized of the design. The law at this time,
having declared that no more than four Macgregors
should be seen together : this chieftain was obliged to
leave his house during the night, to avoid the implacable